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5 Reasons Guys Back Off Emotionally

Any woman who's actively dating will at some point deal with a man who is pulling away. If you notice that a previously attentive man is showing signs of fleeing, one of these things is likely going on:

1. He's just not ready. You may have been communicating effectively that you're playing for keeps (and if so, great job!) but this has him exiting stage left because he is not ready for the commitment.

2. He is scared to take the next step. One of men's primary fears is the loss of freedom. He may be evaluating whether or not what he will gain by having you in his life is worth the inevitable loss of his sexual freedom, financial freedom or time.

3. You're experiencing "man time." When a man gets involved in anything that consumes his attention (work, sports, hobbies, to name a few), he loses track of time. When he finally realizes how much time has passed, he may be too afraid to call you and risk having to face how pissed off you may be.

4. He thinks you've changed. You're not being the same gal he started with. Instead of being easy-going, fun and clearly appreciating who he is maybe he's getting a taste of another side of you; someone who is hard to please, insecure, needy or just not fun anymore.

5. You're not the one for him (or he's not the one for you). You may feel disappointed by this realization at first but in the end it's for your benefit. If this is the case sooner or later that the relationship is going to end.

So how can you tell which one of these is the cause of him being distant? Listen to your gut. If you're dealing with a man who needs some space, you've got to give it to him or risk losing him for good. Keep reading...

4. Gambling is never a problem.

5. It's fine to risk your friends' lives for a boyfriend.

Hey, remember when Ariel almost got her lifelong friend and occasional guardian Sebastian killed so she could dine with a guy who'd never even heard her talk? You do? You need to know that that's never okay.

6. Follow random lights you see when you're alone in the forest.

7. It's acceptable to show up to parties uninvited.

There won't always be enough tea to go around if you keep showing up to parties you're not even invited to attend. And, like Alice, you may find yourself surrounded by lunatics with no respect for themselves, each other or anyone else's property.

8. Don't accept any accolades.

9. Go against your principles.

When she was a kid, Tiana swore she'd never kiss a frog. She changed her mind. Sure, it worked out in the end, but only after she was transformed into an amphibian and subject to a number of voodoo curses.

12. If your pet tiger doesn't like your beau, it'll still work.

13. Having short, dark hair is like, the worst thing ever.

Brunettes are people too. And listen, unless you have a genetic or Ariana Grande-edges issue, your hair will grow back. That's what hair does. If you don't think this is true, remember how you felt the last time you forgot to shave your legs.

14. Necrophilia's fine if he's royalty.

Snow White was in a coffin with her eyes closed in a "sleep-like death," and the seven dwarves just let this happen. Like, Doc didn't even side-eye Prince Charming making out with what everyone thought was just a really well-preserved corpse. Why weren't her pals called the Seven Deviants?

15. Whistle while you work ... but not too much.

You know why Snow White was always happy and encouraged you to "whistle while you work?" Because she wasn't actually working. She got woodland creatures to do all that crap for her. Then, like lots of people in upper management, she took credit for everything once it was done.

16. Your dad will always bail you out of dangerous situations.

Ariel could always rely on her father, King Triton, to save her in The Little Mermaid. For most of us, though, eventually our dads get tired of our s*it and make us grow up, whether or not that means growing legs.

17. Dating criminals is totally okay.

Flynn Rider may be charming in Tangled, but he's a thief with a false identity and was in what's basically a gang with two sociopaths called The Stabbington Brothers. If you wouldn't allow yourself to get sexed into a gang, why would you encourage this Catfish coupling?

18. Oedipus complexes are totally healthy.

Wendy Darling was commissioned by Peter Pan and the Lost Boys to be their mother in Neverland. Then she tried to make out with Peter Pan, who, as you can tell, is just not that into her. Because Peter Pan isn't a creep, no matter how many associations he may have with the late Michael Jackson.